© Getty Images Sport – Clive Brunskill
World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka is out of Indian Wells in the round-of-16 following a surprise loss to Emma Navarro, while birthday girl Coco Gauff routinely sealed a quarterfinal ticket in the desert.
Sabalenka, who finished as runner-up in Indian Wells last year, saw her campaign in Indian Wells end way earlier this year after world No. 23 Navarro handed her a 6-3 3-6 6-2 defeat.
For 22-year-old Navarro – who has been having a breakthrough season on the Tour in 2024 – this is just yet another great result after winning her first WTA title earlier this year and currently enjoying her career-high ranking of No. 23 in the world.
After Sabalenka exited Indian Wells, third-seeded Gauff didn’t allow the same to happen to her as she didn’t have any problems sealing a 6-0 6-2 win over world No. 28 Elise Mertens.
On Wednesday, Gauff’s teenage years officially ended as the American is now 20 years old. For Gauff, starting her 20s with a dominant win was certainly a great way to start this phase of her career.
How Navarro beat Sabalenka?
Through the first seven games, not a single break point was seen but then…
